Stadium security

RealNetworks, Inc., global provider of digital media software and services, has announced SAFR for Security, a new solution that integrates SAFR, the world’s premier facial recognition platform for live video, with leading video management systems (VMS) to provide enhanced visibility and situational awareness for security professionals. Announced at ISC West in Las Vegas, SAFR for Security is immediately available for worldwide deployment. SAFR For Security Heads of security at hospitals, stadiums, corporate campuses, airports, and other enterprises must maintain high awareness over large areas via a growing number of security cameras. To know whether a familiar person, employee, VIP, perceived threat, concern, or stranger is onsite, security professionals must rely on their ability to focus on key details and then make accurate assessments. SAFR for Security makes it simple to maintain higher security in public and restricted areas in our facility" “It’s been a challenge to maintain awareness of who is present at Shelby American, whether those are specific individuals of concern or aggregate demographics of museum visitors,” said Richard Sparkman, Director of Technology, Fleet & Facilities at Shelby American car museum in Las Vegas. “SAFR for Security makes it simple to maintain higher security in public and restricted areas in our facility and helps us understand who is moving through our museum by age, gender, and time of day – allowing us to better tailor our museum experience." 24/7 Video Monitoring Available as a standalone solution or integrated with market-leading video management systems, SAFR for Security provides vigilant 24/7 monitoring to detect and match millions of faces in real time, delivering a 99.86 percent accuracy rate. In the April 2019 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) test results, the SAFR algorithm tested as both the fastest and most compact amongst algorithms for wild images with less than 0.025 FNMR. When SAFR for Security is paired with a VMS, the integrated experience includes video overlays within the VMS to identify strangers, threats, concerns, unrecognized persons, VIPs, employees, or other tagged individuals in live video. Security teams can customize real-time alerts to automatically notify them when persons of interest appear on a video camera feed or make use of automated bookmarking to conduct forensic analysis. SAFR for Security attaches rich metadata to video footage so security professionals can search by time range, location, category, person type, and registered individual instead of sifting through hours of video to find a specific person. All data passed through SAFR is protected with AES 256 encryption in transit and at rest “Security professionals are inundated with hours of raw footage, much of which must be evaluated in real time by a limited number of human eyes,” said Dan Grimm, Vice President and General Manager of Computer Vision at RealNetworks. “SAFR for Security helps these professionals maintain higher awareness by combining our highly accurate AI-based facial recognition service with the software they currently use.” Facial Recognition Systems The underlying SAFR platform has been optimized to detect and recognize faces in live video based on its industry-leading excellence in accuracy and performance. The SAFR platform can be deployed on a single PC to monitor a handful of IP cameras or scaled to thousands of cameras in a distributed architecture hosted on-premises, in the cloud, or hybrid. All data passed through SAFR is protected with AES 256 encryption in transit and at rest. The platform also provides actionable data for live analytics of traffic volumes, demographic composition, dwell times, and data exports for further reporting. “We’re delighted to partner with RealNetworks to extend our intelligent IP video system with SAFR for Security’s highly accurate facial recognition,” said Thomas Lausten, CEO, MOBOTIX AG. “The combination of SAFR and our innovative camera technologies opens up a new set of applications and use cases for MOBOTIX customers around the world, especially in retail, healthcare and education.”

Rosehill Security, a global manufacturer of perimeter security solutions, announces a distribution agreement with ARX Perimeters (ARX) that will make its innovative range of hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) barriers and perimeter security products available in the US market for the first time. Specializing in the provision of layered perimeter protection for events and critical infrastructure, Illinois-based ARX will expand its range of mobile perimeter solutions to include Rosehill Security’s Impakt Defender and Rapid Defender vehicle security barriers (VSB), Ballistic Blocks and Anti-Trespass Panels. Under the terms of the agreement, ARX will have exclusive rights within both the direct sales and hire markets. Perimeter Security Products “We’re excited to get started and grow the profile of Rosehill Security in the US together. Everyone at ARX is passionate about offering the best solutions to meet our clients’ needs, so Rosehill Security’s perimeter security products are an excellent addition to our current product range. Above all else, if it means that we can protect more people from vehicle as a weapon attacks on a larger scale across America, then this agreement will prove invaluable,” said Ben Shipper, President at ARX. Rosehill Security’s surface mounted Rapid and Impakt Defenders can be installed almost anywhere Manufactured from 100% recycled rubber, bonded with polyurethane for strength, Rosehill Security’s surface mounted Rapid and Impakt Defenders can be installed almost anywhere, from cambered road surfaces surrounding stadiums to uneven festival sites. Their unique modular design enables them to be integrated with other mobile perimeter and high-security fence systems, creating additional layers of protection that can be vital in today's ever-changing security climate. Physical Security Planning Additionally, both VSBs can be deployed with Rosehill Security’s pedestrian and vehicle portals to create single or multiple access points without compromising the perimeter’s integrity. These portable modular portals are designed with speed of installation in mind, making them ideal for short-term deployment at temporary events. “While vehicle borne attacks continue to pose a significant threat across the world, it’s more important than ever to consider HVM measures within physical security planning, particularly at events that attract large fluid crowds. The speed and ease with which our products can be deployed makes them an ideal addition to ARX’s existing product range. We’re delighted to be partnering with a dynamic company like ARX as we look to establish Rosehill Security and its products across the Atlantic,” said Dalton Marshall, Sales Manager at Rosehill Security.

Metrasens, a provider of advanced ferromagnetic detection technologies, announced that it will be unveiling the next generation of its mass casualty threat detection solution, Proscreen 900 Plus, at ISC West 2019 in Las Vegas. The new solution bolsters Metrasens’ impressive ferromagnetic screening product line and provides a higher level of security for stadiums, arenas, event venues, hotels, campuses and other areas where security is paramount. Proscreen 900 Plus demonstrates Metrasens’ commitment to innovation in the security sector and focus on delivering screening and detection technology backed by rigorous weapons testing and analysis. The result is high throughput, highly effective detection of large mass casualty threat items without the burden of divestiture. Proscreen 900 Plus helps mitigate the damage potential of bad actors in a mass casualty attack, and is ready to deploy today"In detailed weapons testing against a series of long barrelled firearms, the dual-screening methodology of Proscreen 900 Plus demonstrates an unmatched detection rate and throughput rate of 50-60 individuals screened per minute (3,000–3,600 per hour). With Proscreen 900 Plus, the screeners are placed at the outer perimeter of a facility or venue, detecting potential threats before any attacker can reach security chokepoints. Innovative Technology To Protect People “We live in a time where security for facilities and event venues has never been more important,” said Jim Viscardi, Metrasens Vice-President of Global Security. “Proscreen 900 Plus helps mitigate the damage potential of bad actors in a mass casualty attack, and is ready to deploy today. Our goal at Metrasens is to use innovative technology to protect people as best we can. With Proscreen 900 Plus, we are taking another step forward to making the world a safer place.” Maintaining Metrasens’ signature portability and battery-powered operation, Proscreen 900 Plus is a versatile solution for use in a wide variety of CONOPS. Customers will benefit from Metrasens’ high level of support, including site evaluations and assessments in working with partners and their business. Proscreen 900 Plus offers unobtrusive integration into surroundings so as not to disrupt the atmosphere In addition to detection capabilities and deployment versatility, Proscreen 900 Plus offers unobtrusive integration into its surroundings so as not to disrupt the atmosphere of its environment. This feature will appeal particularly to customers where subtlety is essential in maintaining a positive guest experience. Deployed For Healthcare And Data Security Metrasens is a pioneer in the use of ferromagnetic detection technology in commercial products and continues to produce innovative solutions with deep expertise in ferromagnetic technology development. Metrasens ferromagnetic technologies have been deployed in 46 countries across a variety of markets, including corrections, healthcare and physical data security. By striving for excellence in its mission for safety, the Metrasens team considers its innovation in security solutions to be more than just a job. Interested parties can visit Metrasens at ISC West 2019 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas from April 10-12, booth #11143. Metrasens will be providing hands-on demonstrations of Proscreen 900 Plus. It will also be exhibiting its award-winning physical data security solution, Proscreen 500, which is ideal for data centers and government facilities to combat data theft.

The National Center for Spectator Sport Safety and Security (NCS4) and the Security Industry Association (SIA) have named Scott Dunn – senior director of business development, solutions and services for Axis Communications, Inc. – as the 2019 recipient of the Sports Security Innovator Award. SIA will present Dunn with the honor at the National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition, taking place July 9-11 at the New Orleans Downtown Marriott in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dunn serves on the National Advisory Board for the NCS4, the nation’s first academic center dedicated to spectator sports safety and security research, professional development, training and outreach. He also helped the NCS4 start – and attract global companies to – the Sports and Entertainment Technology Alliance and has been instrumental in the 2025 Smart Stadiums project. Delivering Smarter, Safer Stadiums I’m excited to continue collaborating on new concepts and innovative solutions to deliver on the promise of smarter, safer stadiums and venues"“It’s an honor to be recognized with the 2019 Sports Security Innovator Award from two renowned security organizations who play such a key role in our industry,” said Dunn. “I’m excited to continue collaborating on new concepts and innovative solutions to deliver on the promise of smarter, safer stadiums and venues of the future. Thank you, SIA and NCS4, for this meaningful recognition.” The NCS4 – established at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) – works in close partnership with industry professionals, researchers, academics and government agencies to bolster the capacity of practitioners to effectively respond to safety and security challenges. “Scott is a passionate and innovative leader who sees academia as a catalyst for industry growth,” said Dr. Lou Marciani, director of the NCS4. “Scott has a deep understanding of what is necessary to advance the sports safety and security industry, and we are grateful to have his support of our National Center.” Recognition For Contribution Towards Sport Security At Axis, Dunn leads the company’s long-term strategy regarding in-house developed solutions, including access control, hosted video and future products. He is also responsible for the company’s segment focus, which includes industries such as smart cities, government, retail and health care, and serves on the SIA Board of Directors. Award winners are selected for having promoted scholarship, advanced best practices for ensuring the safety and security of participants “SIA is proud to join the NCS4 in presenting Scott Dunn with the Sports Security Innovator Award in recognition of the time, expertise and effort he has contributed toward advancing sport security,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “Scott has demonstrated expertise in cross-organizational collaboration, fostering best practices, promoting effective security technology use at large stadiums and entertainment venues and working toward the stadium of the future.” Developing Solutions For Sports Safety Challenges The Sports Security Innovator Award – co-presented each year by SIA and the NCS4 at the National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition – recognizes individual SIA members who have demonstrated innovation by developing next-generation solutions for sports safety and security challenges. Award winners are selected for having promoted scholarship, advanced best practices for ensuring the safety and security of participants and attendees at sporting events and advocated for the highest levels of professionalism in the securing of spectator sports venues. The 10th annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition will gather top professionals in the field for a program dedicated to security and safety technologies, products, services and education for safeguarding assets and spectators.

ISC West, the largest converged security event in the U.S., introduces the lineup for its 2019 education sessions, in collaboration with premier sponsor the Security Industry Association (SIA). In partnership with SIA, ISC West will be making educational sessions available during its 2019 ISC West show taking place April 9-12, 2019 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, with SIA Education@ISC kicking off the day prior to the exhibition on April 9. The comprehensive program includes 85+ accredited sessions covering a range of industry topics aimed at providing the critical knowledge attendees need to protect and defend against developing threats in today's security landscape. Force-Multiplying Asset Keynote 1: Delivering Results: How DHS and Industry Partnerships Drive Security Innovation: In this session, keynote speaker William N. Bryan, acting under secretary for science and technology at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will discuss the advances in mobility, machine learning and autonomous technologies that provide new capabilities to build resilience capacity and reduce risks. Keynote 2: Stadium Security – As It Was, Where It Is and Where It Is Going…: Keynote speaker Russ Butler, vice president of security for the San Francisco 49ers and Levi's Stadium, explores the history and evolution of the ever-changing stadium security landscape. ISC West offers complimentary hands-on Vendor Solution Sessions and Unmanned Security educational sessionsThe Great Biometric Debate: After years of promise, biometrics are finally on the rise toward pervasive use. The audience will benefit from a detailed and spirited debate, tempered with a moderator that is an expert in cryptography, identity and applied authentication models across information and physical domains. Integrating Millennials Into Security Organizations: Today, one in three workers is a millennial, but millennials represent only a fraction of membership in security professional associations. This highly interactive session will feature a simulation in generational dynamics with a panel discussion from three generations of security practitioners: Baby Boomer, Gen Xer and Millennial. Meet the Jetsons: Understanding the Promise and Challenges of Smart Cities: Smart cities are now a reality, not just in the U.S., but across the globe. This session will address issues of technology governance to ensure that smart systems are protected and able to serve their human masters without impinging on privacy and civil liberties. How to Adapt to Address Drone Security: With the rapid deployment of small drones across the globe, security organizations are scrambling to become familiar with the threat they represent as well as with ways to use this new technology as a force-multiplying asset. Learn from drone industry professionals and a physical security design engineer about the realistic applications of drone systems and counter-drone solutions that can protect organizations and facilities. Smart Cities, Smart Buildings and the Evolution of the Converged Security Approach: This transformative session will discuss the future of security from the managing of traffic lights/traffic flow, power grids, ports and transportation systems. Included in this conversation will be the understanding of the use of cameras, access control, gunshot detection, open source intelligence social analysers (OSINT), Internet of Things devices, cyber information, video management, predictive maintenance for critical infrastructure and entry solutions. Vendor Solution Sessions In addition to programming with SIA, ISC West offers complimentary hands-on Vendor Solution Sessions and Unmanned Security educational sessions, including: Unmanned Theater: Drones 2.0 - The Next Generation of Flying Robots Unmanned Theater: Multi-Layer Security: Requirements of a Drone World Unmanned Theater: Cyber-Physical Security: How to Evaluate A Counter-Drone System Axis Communications: From Campuses to Communities: How Smart Technologies Are Driving Our Future Intel: Intel OpenVINO Toolkit Workshop Verkada: Modernising Enterprise Video Security Smart City Technology In addition to the standard education sessions, ISC West and SIA will be holding the SIA Women in Security Forum Breakfast @ ISC West on Friday, April 12 "It's our ongoing mission to arm attendees with the knowledge, strategies and tactics they need to make the most informed decisions possible when dealing with today's cyber-physical and public safety security threats," said Will Wise, group vice president, security portfolio at Reed Exhibitions. "This year, we have many new speakers and are covering a gamut of topics – from drones to stadiums security to the developments with smart city technology – facilitating thought leadership between security industry peers looking to advance their knowledge on the most pressing issues." In addition to the standard education sessions, ISC West and SIA will be holding the SIA Women in Security Forum Breakfast @ ISC West on Friday, April 12. Attendees will enjoy featured remarks from Juliette Kayyem – Belfer lecturer in international security and faculty director of the Homeland Security Project at the Harvard Kennedy School, national security analyst for CNN and CEO of Zemcar, – in addition to networking and complimentary breakfast. Robust Education Program Kayyem previously served as President Obama's assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and as Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's homeland security advisor. "Sharing new knowledge on emerging trends, technologies and best practices in security is the cornerstone of the SIA and ISC West partnership," said Elli Voorhees, Ph.D., director of education for SIA. "Our robust education program offerings cover a wide range of topics that appeal to all ISC West attendees – from product manufacturers and integrators to professionals supporting sales, marketing, IT and business operations efforts. Our goal is foster peer-to-peer learning on the most current technological and physical security solutions and business practices, providing attendees with essential information to help them improve organizational performance and gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace."

BrainChip Holdings Ltd, global neuromorphic computing company has announced that it recently signed a strategic partnership agreement with Novo Technologies to sell BrainChip’s AI-powered video analytics solutions in Greece and Cyprus. Novo Technologies currently sells video surveillance, security and access control solutions to police and border control agencies as well as airports, sports stadia and retail/banking locations that require video monitoring. In addition, the company has expertise to provide covert vehicle-based surveillance systems that may be operated from a remote location. CCTV footage is often recorded in low resolution, and is well-suited for content analysis using BrainChip’s unique, award-winning technology. BrainChip Studio has been awarded a Milipol Innovation Award and was named Security Today’s New Product of the Year for video analytics. AI-Enabled Video Analytics BrainChip’s video analytics solution is based on an innovative spiking neural network (SNNs) technology BrainChip’s video analytics solution is based on an innovative spiking neural network (SNNs) technology. Several European government agencies have now adopted BrainChip’s SNN technology to expedite their investigations. 
 Law enforcement agencies are required to search terabytes of recorded video to identify and track suspects and witnesses via complex facial characteristics, and clothing patterns. Using BrainChip Studio and BrainChip Accelerator improves recognition performance to be 20 times faster than a human operator to recognize these characteristics and patterns in the field. Facial Recognition Technologies George Skouras, General Manager of Novo Technologies, commented: “Our sales partnership with BrainChip is a perfect fit. Within Greece and Cyprus, we have already identified many of our customers that are keen to experience the benefits and features provided by BrainChip’s AI-powered solutions. We look forward to launching evaluations with several of our key accounts.” BrainChip’s Director of EMEA Sales, Luis Coello, added: “We are delighted to welcome Novo Technologies to BrainChip’s fast-growing European reseller network. This new collaboration with Novo Technologies further increases our global footprint and the range of video surveillance applications to sell and deploy this year.”

Facial recognition has a long history dating back to the 1800s. To track down criminals, such as infamous bandits Jesse Woodson James and Billy the Kid, law enforcement would place “Wanted Alive or Dead” posters advertising bounties and soliciting public cooperation to help locate and even apprehend the alleged criminals. In addition to the bounty, these posters would include a photo and brief description of the crime, which would then be circulated to law enforcement agencies around the country and displayed in every US Post Office to speed up apprehension. Facial Recognition Advancements in artificial intelligence and biometric technology have led to the widespread use of computerised facial recognitionToday, technology such as social media, television and other more specialized communication networks play a more influential role in the recognition process. Advancements in artificial intelligence and biometric technology, including the development of Machine Learning capabilities, have led to increased accuracy, accessibility and the widespread use of computerized facial recognition. The significance of this means that facial recognition can occur on an even larger scale and in more challenging environments. This article will explore key milestones and technological advances that have resulted in the modern incarnation of facial recognition, before discussing the capabilities of cutting-edge “one-to-many” technology which is increasingly being used by counter-terror defense, police and security forces around the world. Technology Inception And Developments The technology was able to match 40 faces an hour, which was considered very impressive at the time The 1960s marked the start of computerized facial recognition, when Woodrow Wilson (Woody) Bledsoe developed a way to classify faces using gridlines. Bledsoe’s facial recognition still required a large amount of human involvement because a person had to extract the co-ordinates of the face’s features from a photograph and enter this information into a computer. The technology was able to match 40 faces an hour (each face took approximately 90 seconds to be matched) which was considered very impressive at the time. By the end of the 1960s, facial recognition had seen further development at the Stanford Research Institute where the technology proved to outperform humans in terms of accuracy of recognition (humans are notoriously bad at recognizing people they don’t know). By the end of the century, the leading player in the field was a solution that came out of the University of Bochum in Germany – and the accuracy of this technology was such that it was even sold on to bank and airport customers. From this stage on, the facial recognition market began to blossom, with error rates of automatic facial recognition systems decreasing by a factor of 272 from 1993 to 2010 according to US Government-sponsored evaluations. The aim for facial technology is to achieve successful and accurate recognition on commonly available hardware like live CCTV feeds and standard computing hardware Modern Usage Of Facial Recognition Fast-forward to the modern day and facial recognition has become a familiar technology when using applications such as the iPhone X’s Face ID capability or MasterCard Identity Check, passport e-gates at airports and other security and access control points. These solutions implement a consensual form of identity verification, as the user has a vested interest in being identified. This is a “one-to-one” facial recognition event, one person in front of the camera being compared to one identity either on a passport or the app. In these scenarios, the hardware is specifically developed for the application at hand, therefore technically much easier to accomplish. Facial recognition can now be used in a variety of governmental and commercial environments The safety and security world brings a much more complex problem to solve – how to pick out a face in a moving and changing environment and compare it to several faces of interest. “One-to-many” facial recognition is a much harder problem to solve. It’s even more challenging when the aim is to achieve successful and accurate recognition on commonly available hardware like live CCTV feeds and standard computing hardware. And unlike in the 1960’s where identifying a face every 90 seconds was acceptable; the safety and security market requires near instant feedback on who a person matched against a watchlist is. Security And Safety Applications The idea behind all facial recognition technologies is broadly the same: you start with an image of a person’s face (ideally a high quality one, although machine learning means that to a point we can now even use video without reducing accuracy). A fully front facing image is best, think a passport photo, but machine learning and new software has made this more flexible. An algorithm converts this image into a numeric template, which cannot be converted back to an image and so represents a secure one way system. Every numeric template is different, even if it started out as an image of the same person, although templates from the same person are more similar than templates from different people. The accuracy of facial recognition continues to increase alongside deployments in more challenging and complex environments What happens next sounds simple although the technology is extremely complex: templates of people’s faces are taken in real time and compared to those in the database. The technology identifies individuals by matching the numeric template of their face with all the templates saved in a database in a matter of seconds or milliseconds. To put this into perspective, imagine you are at the turnstiles of a busy train station looking for a person on the run. Today’s facial recognition technology would be able to identify that person should they pass in view of a CCTV camera, as well as notify the police of any additional persons of interest, whether they are a known terrorist or missing vulnerable person on an entirely separate watch list. Because of technical progression, facial recognition can now be used in a variety of governmental and commercial environments, from identifying barred hooligans attempting entry at a football stadium or helping self-excluded gamblers at casino to overcome addiction. Real-Time Assessments The latest evolution of facial recognition pits the technology against an even more challenging application – directly matching individuals from body worn cameras for real time recognition for police officers on the beat. This capability equips first responders with the ability to detect a person from a photo and verify their identity with assurance. The broader implication for this means that every interaction, such as stop and search or arrest, can be supported by real-time facial recognition which will see cases of mistaken identity driven down on the streets. First responders can now for the first time be deployed and furnished with the ability to identify wider groups of people of interest with a degree of accuracy that previously relied only on the fallible human memory. As the accuracy of the technology continues to increase alongside deployments in more challenging and complex environments, its ability to support government initiatives and law enforcement means the debate about the lawful and appropriate use of facial recognition must be addressed. Facial recognition should not be everywhere looking for everyone, but when used properly it has the potential to improve public safety and we should make the most of its potential.

Live events at large venues like arenas, stadiums or convention halls – whether they involve wrestlers breaking chairs over each other’s heads, Axl and Slash letting bygones be bygones and reuniting Guns ‘n’ Roses, your favorite NFL team annihilating the opposition 62-3, or a convention involving anything from politics to food to Star Trek – are exciting affairs that channel the camaraderie of the crowd into a powerful collective energy. But they also are vulnerable to threats. Physical Security Solutions Terrorists and other malefactors have known for centuries that any large gathering of people has inherent vulnerabilities on which they can prey: Crowds make it hard for security to keep track of any single person or spot unusual behavior, and the number of people congregated in one space amplifies the impact of any attack. In recent years, organizers of large events have augmented the security methods they use to protect a venue, using both walk-through metal detectors and hand wands, and deploying K9 and police units to patrol the lines to enter security. But these current methods share a universal flaw: to be caught, evil-doers have to be on the verge of actually entering the venue with hundreds of other people, which means they can still cause a massive amount of destruction. In a survey conducted by Brivo, 50 percent of business security leaders felt they lack adequate budget and financial resources to invest in physical security solutions. Augmented Security Measures Organisers of large events have augmented the security methods they use to protect a venue, using both walk-through metal detectors and hand wands Security professionals and event organizers are constantly on the verge of finding new methods to implement in order to add an extra layer of security at venues and large facilities. For example, at this year’s Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California, which attracts over 100,000 attendees each year, organizers boosted their security initiatives by adding drones, armed guards, magnetometers and dog patrols. Unfortunately, large entertainment festivals have been a target for ill-intended individuals. Last year, the 91 Route Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada took the lives of more than 50 people and injured over 500. In the United Kingdom, 22 people lost their lives to a suicide bomber at an Arianna Grande concert in the Manchester Arena. Yet, concerts aren’t the only place new security initiatives and technology need to be implemented in, but also sports arena and large facilities. Metrasens partnered with Villa Park, the football grounds for Aston Villa Football Club in the UK, to conduct a trial using FMDS technology, Proscreen 900, to screen fans Current Screening Methods Conventional walk-through metal detectors are a compromise between effective screening and high throughput, as they successfully detect metal objects, but only can screen about five or six people each minute. They are generally placed 10 to 20 yards from a venue’s front façade, either just outside or just inside, to screen people as they enter the facility. Hand wands are used for anyone that sets off the walk-through detector as a secondary screening method for confirmation. Many facilities also use observational methods to screen, such as drones, surveillance cameras, security officers or police walking the crowd and looking for suspicious behavior, or explosives-sniffing K9 units patrolling the area. Security personnel are aware of these pre-security-screening vulnerabilities around the perimeter of the venue Security Method Limitations Each of these methods has intrinsic limitations. Observational security methods are just that – observation-based, not detection-based. They rely much more heavily on human factors that introduce greater degrees of error and chance, and positive visual identification of a suspicious threat requires a relatively close proximity to observe the threat. They’re also slow and laborious. Walk-through detectors and wands will catch someone trying to enter a facility with a weapon, but by the time they do, it may be too late – a terrorist will already be well within proximity to do a lot of damage. Bad guys don’t need to actually enter the venue; they just need to get close enough to injure or kill a large number of people. That can happen – and has happened, such as with Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 – right at the security point, where a terrorist will be surrounded by dozens or hundreds of people and 10 to 20 yards away from the critical asset: the interior of the venue. Security personnel are aware of these pre-security-screening vulnerabilities around the perimeter of the venue. What they haven’t had until recently is a way to screen mass amounts of people for weapons of mass casualty as far away from the critical asset as they can, and as far away from densely populated areas as they can, all while not impeding throughput resulting from the requirement for patrons to divest their possessions. Expanding Security Reach With FMDS The far perimeter of a venue is an ideal place to screen for weapons of mass casualty. Most of the time, a terrorist is trying to get closer to the immediate perimeter of the venue, to inflict the most damage to large groups of people waiting to get in; farther away, event attendees are walking toward the entrance and thus are more dispersed, not standing in clusters or lines. This advance screening is possible using ferromagnetic detection systems (FMDS). The FMDS systems in the trial, Proscreen 900, were placed outside, where individuals were screened for large weapons before they even entered the football stadium Metrasens recently partnered with a football stadium in Birmingham, UK to conduct a trial using FMDS technology to screen fans. The trial took place in March at Villa Park, the football grounds for Aston Villa Football Club. The stadium can hold over 42,000 people. The FMDS systems in the trial, Proscreen 900, were placed outside, where individuals were screened for large weapons before they even entered the football stadium, adding an extra layer of security. FMDS is highly accurate – there is no false alarm rate, because it is programmed to find only what security personnel need to find In the most basic terms, FMDS uses passive sensors that evaluate disturbances in the earth’s magnetic field made by something magnetic moving through its detection zone. Everything else is invisible to it; it doesn’t see people, clothing, backpacks, purses, etc. Nothing can be used to shield the threat, because FMDS doesn’t detect metallic mass; it detects a magnetic signature, down to a millionth of the earth’s magnetic field. It is also highly accurate – there is no false alarm rate, because it is programmed to find only what security personnel need to find (e.g., a weapon). Although it is a passive technology, it is more effective and reliable than using observational security methods to screen a perimeter, because the technology will never miss something the way a human would. Recognizing Moving Magnetic Signatures An important point is that the system only works on moving objects. This makes it immune to environmental conflicts such as rebar that would trip up conventional metal detectors and allowing people to be screened quickly and unobtrusively without stopping to divest their possessions as they walk toward a venue – up to 50 or 60 people a minute. FMDS does not need people to be organized into lines or groups; it simply detects a magnetic signature on anything that passes. It runs on batteries – there is no need for an electricity source, as with a walk-through detector – and can be placed on just about any form factor (a pole, a stand, etc.). This gives security personnel flexibility when deploying FMDS, allowing them to create a wide perimeter around a venue without worrying about portability or a power source. Screening can be as obvious or as concealed as personnel prefer for a particular situation, based on the form factor they select. FMDS simply gives the opportunity to add a layer of security where there currently is not an effective solution All of these combine into a solution that creates a way to close a gap in mass screenings at large events, by expanding the secure perimeter and creating a highly accurate way to detect weapons of mass casualty farther away from a critical asset and large crowds. It does not replace screening for smaller items necessarily, and all large venues should use a layered security solution that also deploys tactics like roving security guards, walk-through metal detectors and hand wands. FMDS simply gives the opportunity to add a layer of security where there currently is not an effective solution. Effective Mass Screening Solution Pessimists sometimes muse the world is getting more dangerous with each passing year, and that technology is at least partially responsible for both the breadth and depth of the increasingly creative ways bad guys harm people. But some technologies also are responsible for helping to fight against those threats and make the world safer, and FMDS is one of those. By providing a foolproof method of detecting weapons of mass casualty before terrorists get too close to an event venue, FMDS gives event security personnel a way to better protect large events, making them less dangerous and keeping people safe. Images source: Metrasens

Atlanta’s new $1.5 billion stadium, home to the NFL Atlanta Falcons football team and MLS Atlanta United soccer club and site of the recent NCAA national college football championship, is protecting fans, personnel and athletes from terrorists and errant drivers from using vehicles as weapons. While the threat of terrorists planning to attack soft targets, such as stadiums increases, stadium security professionals, such as those at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, must look for the weak points throughout their facilities to determine where fanatics are most likely assailing. Taking their cue from hard target attacks, they and other stadium management understand that the use of vehicles, either to carry the people that will carry out the attack or act as the bomb itself, is a very real threat. New System, Safer Pedestrians Installed by Tusco, using Delta Scientific perimeter protection products, the new access system includes four DSC501 barriers, five DSC720 bollards, 39 DSC2000 barriers and 59 DSC680 fixed bollards. “We are very experienced with installing Delta equipment,” relates Brent Martina, President of Tusco. “Mercedes-Benz Stadium was very particular about their security needs and protocols and requested a customized sequence of operations for their security equipment. While the threat of terrorists planning to attack soft targets increases, stadium security professionals must look for the weak points throughout their facilities “Delta Scientific’s products and experienced engineers made them the obvious choice in meeting both the high quality and technical standards required to integrate with the stadium’s sophisticated security system. It was crucial to have a reliable team in place as we received a very compressed schedule to get everything complete by the first football game and, therefore, had no room for errors.” Because of long, straight approaches to some access points, stadiums oftentimes need to deploy high performance barriers. DSC501 barriers were used at main entrances where players and VIPs, among others, enter with their cars. Preventing Attacks Before They Happen The DSC501 is the only K54-certified retractable vehicle barricade in the world. Set in a foundation only 18 inches deep, it will survive and operate after a 5.4-million-foot pound impact. That’s equivalent to a 65,000-pound truck hitting it at 50 mph. Stopping the truck or car dead in its tracks, the DSC501 protects against a “second hit” risk from a second vehicle. The stadium preferred installing these barricades in a more industrial look, wanting them to be “seen.” Five retractable DSC720 bollards were used at the pedestrian entry areas. This is Delta’s highest crash rated bollard, stopping a 15,000-pound vehicle at 50 mph. The bollard will stop and destroy much larger vehicles than those tested at very high velocities. The DSC720 is 35 inches tall and 15 inches wide. At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the bollards feature brushed stainless-steel sleeves. Oftentimes, the ground below the access points are filled with cables, wires, pipes and other infrastructure products. As a result, typical, below ground installed traffic bollards, barriers and barricades cannot be used because these infrastructure products are too close to the surface. The solution is to use surface-mounted and shallow foundation barricades and barriers. This isn’t the only stadium using Delta equipment to protect staff and attendees from vehicle harm - Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco is a well-known user Delivery Entrances Are Weaknesses At the same time, for some reason, delivery entrances never seem to be as secured as the main entrances to the stadium. With delivery vehicles coming and going, delivery entrances need a solution that lets delivery vehicles enter and exit but stop unauthorized vehicles from entering at all. At the loading docks, 39 of Delta’s fastest, smallest and shallowest foundation barricades were implemented. Chosen especially for high speed applications and ease of installation, the cost effective DSC2000 barrier is K12 crash-certified with no penetration, meaning it will stop a 15,000-pound vehicle traveling 50 mph dead in its tracks. The ten-inch shallow foundation also reduces installation complexity, time, materials and corresponding costs. Lastly, 50 DSC680 shallow foundation fixed bollards with stainless steel sleeves protect pedestrian areas. They secure any unprotected locations where vehicle bombers and errant drivers have no obstacles. Versus cement barriers such as posts and pots, many organisations prefer fixed-post bollards for several reasons. Terrorists typically don't go where they see barricades, so placing them wherever possible attacks can happen reduces security risks dramatically That’s because, when hit, cement posts and pots can explode, literally spreading shrapnel throughout the crowd, potentially creating numerous injuries. Shallow foundation bollards can be installed within sidewalks or on top of concrete deck truss bridges as well as conform to the inclines and turns of a locale. They also meet the 1-meter clearance regulations mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The fixed bollard, which does not go up and down, provides a significant blocking device solution that continues to challenge security directors faced with threats such as stopping a vehicle from ploughing into the stadium’s inner perimeter. They let a facility manager meet a long-standing challenge - how to easily install bollards on shallow substrates, including those that are not level or have turns. No longer do locations, such as curves on hills, the upper levels of parking structures and other unprotected locales have to rely on unsightly ‘make-do’ solutions to stop car bombers or wayward drivers. One Of The World's Most Secure “Delayed by roof issues, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium challenged us with a condensed schedule to provide one of the world’s most secure vehicle access systems,” avows Martina. “I’m proud to say that our team completed the work on time and walked away from the project with another pleased client.” This isn’t the only stadium using Delta equipment to protect staff and attendees from vehicle harm. Among many, Penn State and Purdue as well as Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco (49ers) are well-known users. Unfortunately, most procurement offices won't allow vendors to announce their purchases. This is too bad since terrorists typically won't go where they know barricades are deployed, reducing security risks dramatically. Leading universities, including six of the Associated Press (AP) top-10 rated 2018 pre-season football schools, also stayed one step ahead of terrorists and errant drivers this year on their campuses by identifying vulnerable areas and securing them within minutes with Delta MP5000 temporary, portable barriers. These mobile deployable vehicle crash barriers carry a K8 rating (M40 ASTM rating), stopping 7.5-ton vehicles traveling 40 mph. Terrorists typically don't go where they see barricades, so placing them wherever possible attacks can happen reduces security risks dramatically. Today, there is little excuse for a major stadium to suffer an attack which uses a vehicle to break through the perimeter. Whatever the weakness a terrorist thinks can be exploited, there is a type of bollard, barricade or barrier to stop him, yet let authorized people through.

Keynote speakers will kick off ISC West Day 1 and Day 2. Keynote sessions are open to anyone, and ISC West organisers look for speakers with broad-based appeal, either from the government or related to security strategies, standards and measures. Timely and newsworthy topics are included as a means of educating attendees on the best way to protect their own facilities. On the first day of the exhibition, April 10 at 8:30 a.m., the Keynote Speaker will be William Bryan of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As science and technology advisor for DHS, Bryan leads research, development, innovation and testing and evaluation activities. An Army veteran with 17 years of active military service and three years in the Virginia National Guard, Bryan brings a wealth of experience gained from multiple leadership roles in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Defense (DoD). Safeguarding Public At Stadium Butler has been responsible for the personal security of Prime Ministers, Presidents, and members of the British Royal FamilyThe Day 2 Keynote, Thursday at 8:30 a.m., will be given by Russ Butler, Vice President of Security for the San Francisco 49ers and Levi’s Stadium. A former Scotland Yard Police Officer, Butler led a team of specially trained and equipped police officers tasked in the 1980s with safeguarding the public at soccer matches throughout the UK during the height of organized soccer violence. He was also a SWAT Team Leader for Scotland Yard, and has been responsible for the personal security of Prime Ministers, Presidents, and members of the British Royal Family. Butler has been involved in planning and executing notable events such as Super Bowl 50, ‘WrestleMania’ and this year’s College Football Championships. The ISC West conference program, provided by the Security Industry Association (SIA) and branded SIA Education@ISC, is expanding this year to 85-plus sessions, with something for everyone, whether they are an end user, dealer/installer, consultant, or are focused on a specific vertical market. The conference program speaks to every audience segment at the show. Enhancing Organization’s Cybersecurity Attendees will leave the session with a self-created model including concrete recommendations to enhance their organization’s cybersecurityCybersecurity will be a bigger topic than ever, and among the new speakers will be Johna Johnson, CEO and Founder of Nemertes Research, whose session will enable end user participants to quickly and accurately ‘score’ the maturity of their cybersecurity initiatives. Session participants will use handouts to rate themselves and their current success based on operational metrics, deployment of key ‘bellwether technologies’, and organizational and operational best practices. Attendees will leave the session, planned for April 9 at 10:15 a.m., with a self-created model including concrete recommendations to enhance their organization’s cybersecurity. Another new speaker will be Hector Alvarez, President of Alvarez Associates, a specialist in workplace violence prevention. His presentation, April 9 at 2:45 p.m., is geared towards security, safety, risk managers and HR staff who are new to threat management/workplace violence, or experienced professionals who can benefit from reviewing the foundational steps. Addressing Threatening And Concerning Behavior The sessions, on April 10 and 11, provide exhibitors an opportunity to educate and provide demonstrations to their customer base on new technologiesReal-world vignettes will be reviewed, including those with both negative and positive outcomes. The session will enable attendees to recognize the warning signs of individuals on the pathway towards violence, and to identify a range of intervention and response options to address threatening and concerning behavior. Free Vendor Solution Sessions are another popular feature of the ISC West conference program. The sessions, on April 10 and 11, held in meeting rooms near the exhibit hall, provide ISC West exhibitors an opportunity to educate and provide demonstrations to their customer base on new technologies. They are free to any ISC West badgeholders. Some of the sessions attract large attendance, and preregistration is provided. Presenting companies include Axis Communications, StarLink Fire, FireLink FACP, Hikvision, Intel, Verkada, and IBM.

Choosing the right server for a video surveillance application comes down to one question: What does the customer expect from the system? Is it a retail location with two cameras that only needs video stored for 24 hours? Does the system need failover protection? What are the ramifications if a system goes down? Does business have to stop? How fast does the customer need to have access to video? Is it a regulated industry where immediate access is a requirement? How mission-critical is the video system to operations?  Mission Critical Video Surveillance Solutions Such questions can point video system designers to the right technology for an application, and a manufacturer and reseller with a wide product offering ensure that the perfect solution is available and can be shipped quickly. It’s important to remember that this is not a “one size fits all” marketplace. Data capture form to appear here! Questions need to be asked on what an appropriate server solution will provide for the customer 1) JBOD - It stands for "just a bunch of disks" and refers to a collection of hard disks that have not been configured to work together. This approach is typical of stand-alone systems such as a retailer who has one or two cameras recording locally at a remote location, and who have a tolerance for occasionally losing video footage.  2) RAID 5/6 is a redundant array of independent disks in which data is stored across all the disks. The configuration provides more redundancy and reliability, better balance of disk usage, and more throughput and performance. RAID 5/6 is a redundant array of independent disks in which data is stored across all the disks 3) SAN or storage area network is a type of centralized storage providing enhanced accessibility to disk arrays. SAN provides high performance but is not as easy to expand. It is also less expensive than NAS systems.  4) NAS or network-attached storage is another type of centralized data storage. NAS systems are networked appliances containing storage drives. Benefits include faster data access, easier administration and simple configuration. NAS systems are easier to expand than SAN but provide less performance. NAS systems fit well in situations where customers have massive storage needs (or expect to in the future.) These are applications with lots of cameras and a need to retain high-frame-rate video for 180 days or longer. Typical uses include sports arenas, large cities, universities, corporate campuses and airports. Immediate Access To Video Highly available systems, such as SAN or NAS, are needed in any regulated industry. For example, in the cannabis grower market, an end user might need immediate access to video to show a compliance regulator. Gaming is another market in which immediate access to video is critical, and, for example, if a video system goes down at a table game, the gaming has to shut down, which is an expensive prospect to the casino. Therefore, reliability is critical. Video’s benefits beyond safety and security can also help to justify the costs of more expensive system Importance Of Video In Risk Mitigation In some instances, video is used primarily to manage risk, for example in litigation (or to avoid litigation) in a slip-and-fall claim or other court action. This is referred to as Loss Prevention. The ability to save thousands of dollars (or millions) by averting an expensive legal verdict can go a long way toward justifying the costs of systems.  Video’s benefits beyond safety and security, such as for marketing and business analytics, can also help to justify the costs of more expensive systems. Identifying The Right Video Server Equipment Offering a variety of choices, and adapting those systems to specific applications, ensures customer satisfaction “A tradeoff of cost and needed functionality is at the center of decisions when buying server systems for video applications,” says Tom Larson, Chief Technology Officer, BCDVideo. “Identifying specifically what the customer needs from the system, and how important it is to meet those needs, points to the right choice in video server equipment. "Various technologies have advantages and some downsides, and it is the customer’s need for those advantages (and tolerance for the downsides) that determines which server equipment is right for the job.” Offering a variety of choices, and adapting those systems to specific applications, ensures customer satisfaction. The systems builder can help integrators analyze the site and project requirements and translate those into the right equipment and networking choices. What does the customer need and how much are they willing to pay for it? The real determination is “how important is the video?”

The 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament is bringing 32 national teams and more than 400,000 foreign soccer fans from all over the world to 12 venues in 11 cities in Russia. Fans are crowding into cities including Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan. Given continuing global concerns about terrorism, security is top-of-mind. Protection of the World Cup games in Russia is focusing on an “integrated safety, security and service approach,” according to officials. Combining the term “security” with the terms “safety” and “service” is not an accident. An aggressive security stance is necessary, but at the end of the day, fan safety is paramount, and a service-oriented approach ensures a positive fan experience. Medical responders will be working side-by-side with police and antiterrorism personnel. Risk Management Best Practices We asked Sean T. Horner and Ben Joelson, directors of the Chertoff Group, a global advisory firm focused on best practices in security and risk management, to comment on security at FIFA World Cup 2018. Although not involved in securing the 2018 World Cup, the Chertoff Group is experienced at securing large events and enterprises using risk management, business practices and security. Integration is another important aspect of protecting the games, says Horner. The use of multiple resources, including Russian military, intelligence and law enforcement, will be closely integrated to provide the best security for the large-scale event in each of the host cities, he says. The approach will be centralized and flexible, with resource deployment guided by effective situational awareness.Primary security and emergency operations centers will be dispersed throughout each host city “There is a unified command structure at the Russian Federation level, and they will keep resources in reserve and shift them as needed to various events and venues based on any specific intelligence, in effect deploying resources where threats are greatest,” says Joelson. “There will also be some regional commands, and resources will incorporate a spectrum of police and military personnel ranging from the ‘cop on the beat’ to the Spetsnaz, the Russian ‘special forces.” Primary security and emergency operations centers will be dispersed throughout each host city, and additional forces can be shifted as necessary, he notes. Role Of Law Enforcement In Russia, the lines of separation between law enforcement and the military are not as stark as in the United States, for example, where military forces are restricted from deployment for domestic law enforcement by the Posse Comitatus Act. In Russia, there is no such restriction.  A broad range of technology will play a role at the World Cup, Horner and Joelson agree. Technology will be used primarily as a force multiplier and a decision-support tool for security personnel. There are robust CCTV systems in many Russian cities, and mobile CCTV systems, such as camera towers or mobile security centers on wheels, will also be deployed. Technologies will include infrared cameras, flood lights, and ferromagnetic screening systems to scan hundreds of individuals as they walk by. In some locations, facial recognition systems will be used, tied into various intelligence, military and law enforcement databases of known bad actors. Behavior analytics will be used as a decision-support tool. In addition to security in public areas, private CCTV systems in hotels, at transportation hubs, and inside the venues themselves will be leveraged. Video analytics and detection will help personnel review live view of people who may be acting suspiciously or who leave a bag unattended. In some locations, facial recognition systems will be used, tied into various intelligence, military and law enforcement databases of known bad actors Rigorous Anti-Terrorism Measures A Fan ID card is required to enter the 2018 FIFA World Cup Tournament, even for Russian residents. The Russians have an aggressive stance against domestic terrorism, which will also help ensure the safety of the World Cup games, say Horner and Joelson. Terrorist group ISIS has promised “unprecedented violence” at the games, but they make similar threats at every major global event. Russia has been an active force disrupting ISIS in Syria, and experts suggest that losing ground geographically could lead to addition “asymmetric” terrorist attacks. However, Russia is leveraging all their intelligence resources to identify any plots and deploying their security apparatus to disrupt any planned attacks, experts say. Russia’s rigorous anti-terrorism measures include a total ban on planes and other flying devices (such as drones) around the stadiums hosting the World Cup. Private Security In addition to military, intelligence and law enforcement personnel, private security will play a have a high profile during the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Private security personnel will be on the front lines in hotels and in “fan zones.” They will operate magnetometers at entrances, perform bag checks, enforce restrictions on hand-carried items, etc. Private security will be especially important to the “guest experience” aspects of protecting the games.Private security will be especially important to the “guest experience” aspects of protecting the games Another private security function at the World Cup is executive protection of dignitaries and high-net-worth individuals who will be attending. Executive protection professionals will arrive early, conduct advanced security assessments before VIPs arrive, and secure trusted and vetted transportation (including armored cars in some cases.) VIPs will include both Russian citizens and foreign (including U.S.) dignitaries attending the games. Private security details will be out in force. Aggressive Security Approach Overeager and outspoken fans are a part of the football culture, but Russia will deploy a near-zero tolerance policy against hooliganism and riots. An overwhelming force presence will take an aggressive approach to curbing any civil disturbances, and offenders will be removed quickly by Russian security forces. Strict restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol will be enforced in the venue cities before and after the matches. Officials will also be cognizant of the possibility of a riot or other event being used as a distraction to draw attention from another area where a terrorist event is planned. It will be a delicate balance between deploying an aggressive security approach and preserving the fan experience. Joelson notes that freedom of speech is not as valued in Russia as in other parts of the world, so the scales will be even more tipped toward security. “The last thing they want is for things to get out of control,” says Horner. “The event is putting Russia on the world stage, and they want visitors to walk away safely after having a great time and wanting to go back in the future.”Attendees should also have good situational awareness, and keep their heads up, scanning crowds and identifying unsafe situations" Precautions for World Cup attendees Attendees to the World Cup in Russia should take some basic precautions, Horner and Joelson agree. For example, Russia requires a translated, notarised letter explaining any prescription drugs. The country has a more aggressive foreign intelligence environment, so visitors cannot depend on their data being private. Joelson recommends the usual “social media hygiene” and privacy settings. Visitors should not post information about their travel plans or locations, and it’s best to travel with a disposable mobile phone that does not contain personal information. Location tracking should be deactivated. Travelers should also beware of talking and sharing information with others, or of saying anything derogatory. “They should also have good situational awareness, and keep their heads up, scanning crowds and identifying unsafe situations,” says Joelson. “If you bring a personal electronic device, you should expect that it has been compromised,” says Horner. Text messages and email will not be private, and he suggests creating an email address used only for travel. Don’t leave drinks unattended. Travelers from the U.S. should register at the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) operated by the U.S. State Department. “Plan before you travel and before you get to the airport,” says Horner.

It is one of Moscow’s most ambitious building projects: the VTB Arena Park was built on the site of the old Dynamo Stadium and revitalizes the entire surrounding area with a multi-purpose concept. At an estimated cost of US$ 1.5 billion, the modern VTB Arena Park combines sports, entertainment, commercial and residential facilities. A first challenge arises from the sheer size of the project: The football stadium, known as Dynamo Central Stadium and home to FC Dynamo Moscow football club, hosts league matches with a capacity of over 26,000 spectators. The park’s indoor arena holds more than 12,000 guests during ice hockey matches, basketball games and rock concerts, while the 300,000 square-meter park area also offers retail facilities, a five-star hotel and 1,600-car parking garage. Protecting residential areas Considering the wide range of very different purposes served by these various buildings, it was clear from the project’s inception that a multitude of vendors and providers would be needed to cover all security needs. VTB Arena Park was looking for a partner able to tackle that key challenge From the security manager’s perspective, the main challenge was to ensure that these disparate systems would function together and allowed for central management of a wide array of functions such as: access control for tens of thousands of football fans entering the stadium on match days, monitoring the vast perimeter with its park zones, and protecting residential areas against intrusion. VTB Arena Park was looking for a partner able to tackle that key challenge – integration of all parts into one platform – and chose Bosch as its provider of end-to-end video security and access control. Intelligent video analytics Aside from the project’s complex technical ramifications, there was a particular system design challenge: Residents of the Arena Park should feel at home enjoying the highest quality of living, while the area also needs to accommodate for the influx of thousands of visitors within short periods. As the Bosch experts learned, the multi-purpose character of VTB Park leads to an equally wide range of different security needs among its users. Catering to the video security needs, Bosch installed a total of more than 2,000 video cameras, fixed as well as moving cameras, both indoors and outdoors, to safeguard the vast perimeter of the Arena Park premises and secure the homes and offices. One of the camera types installed for perimeter protection is the AUTODOME IP starlight 7000 HD. This high-definition camera offers excellent low-light performance thanks to starlight technology and also features built-in Intelligent video analytics. Access control systems The video analytics function automatically detects deviations from standard moving patterns The video analytics function automatically detects deviations from standard moving patterns, like a person entering a restricted area, and triggers an alarm that is sent to the control rooms where security staff can then zoom into a scene for closer investigation. As required by VTB Arena, all 2,000 cameras and connected video storage on Bosch recording units are managed centrally via the Bosch Video Management System (BVMS). Another particular challenge consisted of aligning the three different access control systems of the stadium running at the same time. The ticketing system is the first layer of access control, managing the turnstiles that permit entry of thousands of visitors during events with paper tickets. This access control system needed to integrate with the employee access control system that relies on proximity cards (the Access Engine provided by Bosch), as well as a third, offline access control system used at specific stadium facilities. Integrated security system As the Bosch experts in Moscow found out, such an integration was without historic precedent. Because no standard solution existed, the team devised a highly customized set-up managed centrally on the Building Integration System (BIS) from Bosch. “We were fully aware that the multifunctional character of the VTB Arena Park would lead to complexity that could hardly be topped. We needed integration power, a partner who knew how to bind all loose ends into one solution that had never existed before. Creating this one integrated security system catering to all the various purposes has made Bosch our main security partner,” said Alexander Kravchenkov, Deputy Head of Security Systems Maintenance Group IT Department at VTB Arena.

Danish Superliga football club Brøndby IF’s stadium is the first in Denmark to utilize facial recognition technology, provided by Panasonic, to ensure a safer stadium experience and alleviate the strain placed on staff during high profile matches. Panasonic security cameras The system is being deployed to automate the process of identifying blacklisted persons and prevent them from entering the stadium, a task which was previously undertaken manually by security personnel. Panasonic’s security cameras and FacePRO facial recognition software, automatically identify any individuals registered on the list, and sends a message to staff to take the appropriate action.The automated procedure at the stadium entrance will decrease congestion at the gates The system will enhance security measures and fan safety, which will prove especially important during high profile matches such as the derby against F.C. Copenhagen. Furthermore, the automated procedure at the stadium entrance will decrease congestion at the gates, resulting in a faster entrance process for fans. Stadium security Expecting an average attendance of 14,000 people per game, and up to 100 registered persons on the stadium blacklist, it allows staff to focus their attention on better assistance and service towards fans entering the stadium.  Jesper Jørgensen, Managing Director of Brøndby IF commented, “The system will significantly increase our efficiency in identifying blacklisted persons at our entrance gates, so we can ensure they do not enter the stadium. We are always trying to optimize our stadium experience for our fans, and ultimately create the best possible fan experience. This is another step into the right direction.” FacePRO facial recognition software To maintain personal privacy, the facial recognition technology does not store the images or data of those who are not registered on the blacklist. Also, the data of those who are registered on the internal Brøndby server is not connected to the internet or to any other system. Panasonic’s facial recognition system contributes to a safer stadium environment by alleviating security pressure" “Panasonic’s facial recognition system contributes to a safer stadium environment by alleviating security pressure on the ground, while ensuring that all data is protected from unauthorized external access” said Gerard Figols, head of the European security business at Panasonic. “In turn, we can offer peace of mind to football fans and Brøndby IF that our technology will improve the standard of safety even during high profile matches, something that fans have already complimented the system for.” High-performance facial recognition Recognized by the National Institute of Standards of Technology (NIST) as having the world’s highest level of facial recognition performance in independent testing. The technology can identify faces that are difficult to recognize with conventional techniques, such as those taken from an angle of up to 45 degrees to the left or right or 30 degrees up or down, and even when part of the face is concealed or hidden by sunglasses. The system also recognizes faces from photographs that are up to 10 years old.

The Security Industry Association (SIA), the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and ISC West are partnering to provide education on the critical issue of stadium security at ISC West 2019, occurring April 9-12 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. As part of this partnership, SIA Education@ISC will host The Stadium of the Future, a presentation bringing together a panel of industry experts to discuss current technology and capabilities gaps in security for the sports and entertainment industry. Research conducted by the NCS4 provides evidence of a need for innovation and technology transfer in this multi-billion-dollar industry Research conducted by the NCS4 provides evidence of a need for innovation and technology transfer in this multi-billion-dollar industry. In this key education offering, Dr. Lou Marciani, director of the NCS4, will moderate a discussion featuring Scott Dunn, senior director of business development, solutions and services at Axis Communications; Greg Moya, global pre-sales director at Dell Technologies; and Ryan Zatolokin, business development manager and senior technologies at Axis Communications. 360-Degree Video Walls “The race to build the most cutting-edge sports stadium in the world has already begun. With 360-degree video walls, retractable roofs and interactive, virtual fan experience areas, the next generation of sports stadiums focuses on the convergence of the physical and digital experience,” said Dr. Elli Voorhees, director of education and training at SIA. “High-tech advancements are being made to enhance the fan experience at every turn, and this education session will highlight how technology capabilities are being leveraged to improve safety and security.” During this special session, industry experts will share the latest updates and findings regarding stadium and public venue security, highlight the NCS4’s work and share how attendees can participate in upcoming projects and initiatives. Public Venue And Stadium Security Attendees will have the opportunity learn from leading industry experts and participate in a hands-on learning exercise “The sports and entertainment industry is moving away from traditional stadium structures to mega-venues which affix residential, office and retail spaces to large sports complexes,” said Marciani. “As technology advances and stadiums evolve into multi-purpose centers, security solution providers need to learn about the current and future needs of commercial sport and entertainment facilities – to meet growing market demands and to stay competitive in their product development.” Attendees will have the opportunity learn from leading industry experts and participate in a hands-on learning exercise. The Stadium of the Future will take place during ISC West on Thursday, April 11, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in Sands 302. Following the session, attendees will enjoy a cocktail reception sponsored by SIA. SIA Education@ISC West To attend The Stadium of the Future and other education sessions at ISC West, sign up for SIA Education@ISC West. Featuring 85+ sessions on a variety of hot topics and providing critical information on the newest technologies in security, SIA Education@ISC West is your top industry resource for vendor-agnostic security and network training. The program qualifies for continuing education hours with many relevant industry accreditation bodies.

Digital Barriers, edge-based IoT surveillance and security technologies solutions provider, has announced that its cutting-edge facial recognition technology was successfully deployed at The O2 in London to enhance security at both The BRIT Awards (“BRITs”) in February and the National Television Awards (“NTAs”) in January this year. The technology was used to screen guests at multiple entrances at both events, which had a combined television audience of more than 10 million viewers. “After a series of demonstrations with facial recognition providers, we selected Digital Barriers for our live trials. Their holistic approach, analytic technology and partnership with human verification worked perfectly in a real-world deployment,” said Stefan Thompson. Digital Barriers – SRI Partnership  At the O2, Digital Barriers partnered with Super-Recognizers International (SRI), whose trained staff identify faces in crowds, enabling them to respond quickly to any matches on the system. Digital Barriers provides mobile apps linked to its facial recognition system, enabling face-to-face secondary verification and the super recognizers were fully trained in this technology. Digital Barriers has the best facial recognition technology of any I’ve seen, and I’m excited to join" Digital Barriers has also announced that following this successful partnership, Kenny Long, SRI’s co-founder and COO, has joined Digital Barriers. “As an expert in people identification I’ve seen every solution on the market,” he said. “Digital Barriers has the best facial recognition technology of any I’ve seen, and I’m excited to join.” Facial Recognition System At O2 Arena Digital Barriers and SRI have agreed to partner together wherever there is a requirement to combine facial recognition and specialist operators. “This is a unique offering anywhere in the world,” Kenny Long explained, “and I look forward to working with my former colleagues.” “The O2 is the world’s most popular music and entertainment venue, we’re continually reviewing our security measures. The use of facial recognition is proving to be a valuable enhancement to the security and safety of the venue, its guests and staff. The trials with Digital Barriers have been successful and we’re committed to creating a safe and secure venue for all our fans, staff and performers,” said Paul Williams, Senior Security Manager at The O2. “There are multiple companies in the facial recognition field making claims as to what their technologies can do in the real-world – most have never deployed at scale successfully and rely instead on exaggerated marketing,” said Zak Doffman, CEO of Digital Barriers. “We work with government agencies around the world. Our technology is field-proven in the hardest operating environments. We are delighted with the successful deployments at The O2 and that Kenny Long is joining us. Both attest to the world-class quality of our technology.”

Rasilient Systems, Inc., the pioneer in forensic-grade video surveillance systems, has completed Phase II of the video surveillance system upgrade at Fairbanks International Airport (FIA) in Alaska. Phase II at FIA continued the installation of modern video surveillance for the airport to meet the stringent demands needed to provide safety and security for the thousands of passengers FIA serves daily. FIA is a state-owned, public-use airport that averages more than 328 aircraft operations each day. The Phase II video surveillance deployment includes Rasilient server and storage technology that facilitates distributed IP megapixel camerasThe Phase II video surveillance deployment includes Rasilient server and storage technology that facilitates distributed IP megapixel cameras; recording transmission and storage of forensic-based, high-quality video signals; comprehensive live viewing and playback; utilization of purpose-built/designed digital IP networks; and intelligent processing of archived video, said Rasilient Director of Strategic Sales Engineering Dr. Edward Wassall. Increased Support For Surveillance Cameras “These are key components that have the major video surveillance system requirements of scalability, video quality and reliability that FIA sought to implement when they chose to upgrade their security system,” said Dr. Wassall. “This current upgrade increased the number of supported video surveillance cameras as well as the efficiency associated with the management related to storage.” Phase I, completed in the summer of 2018, included the initial deployment of Rasilient’s forensic-grade series video surveillance servers and storage. Rasilient’s purpose-built server and storage products provide a video surveillance system infrastructure designed to deliver reliable and continuous video surveillance with exclusive No Frame Drop (NFD) technology that eliminates recording gaps. Enhancing Visibility And Storage Capabilities The Rasilient system has allowed FIA to meet the needs of today as well as to provide scalability for our future needs"FIA Building and Security Representative Dana Bowen said their primary decision to upgrade the multi-camera airside and landside video surveillance system was to enhance visibility and storage capabilities. The Rasilient system has allowed FIA to meet the needs of today as well as to “provide scalability for our future needs,” said Bowen. “We are really very happy with the new airport forensic enabled storage system,” said Bowen. Small, medium to large enterprise deployments are supported by Rasilient products and technologies, and they have been deployed worldwide to protect museums, government institutions, airports, seaports, military contractors, financial institutions, educational establishments, stadiums, and residential complexes.

Apstec Systems announces that its Human Security Radar (HSR), the first fully automatic real-time mass people screening solution, has been selected by Esenboga Airport, Ankara, to significantly boost security in land side areas. Chosen following a rigorous selection process, including a pilot installation, HSR will be installed at the terminal entrances as part of ongoing security enhancement measures by the Turkish State Airports Authority. It will enable people screening without slowing down the flow of traffic, with each system capable of scanning up to 10,000 individuals per hour. The technology was deployed in partnership with local distributer AKBA. Cost-Effective Solution The devastating attacks on Ataturk Airport in Istanbul and Brussels Airport highlighted the vulnerability of the land side of airports to terrorism The devastating attacks on Ataturk Airport in Istanbul and Brussels Airport highlighted the vulnerability of the land side of airports to terrorism. Since these events there has been global interest in securing the land side of airports, but traditional aviation style security checkpoints or manual searches, which scan one individual at a time, are not suited to purpose and result in large queues of passengers, which are vulnerable to attack in their own right. With existing approaches to security screening providing impractical, inconvenient and expensive to operate, terminals have remained susceptible to attack, or are subject to intrusive and disruptive security screening regimes. HSR was designed to address this challenge, and offers a practical and cost-effective solution to security screening in such high footfall scenarios. Enhanced Security Measures The first fully automated, real-time mass screening solution, HSR provides seamless security to protect public places from terrorist attacks. The walkthrough system uniquely combines unparalleled high throughput, speed and accuracy, simultaneously screening multiple subjects in real-time for threats, without the need for an operator to inspect suspect materials. With 40,000 passengers traveling through Esenboga Airport every day, the deployment of HSR will be instrumental in improving security for millions of people. Through deploying HSR as part of its commitment to terminal safety and enhanced security measures" “HSR constitutes a major breakthrough in the way airports protect the land side of terminals,” commented Osman Aksoy & Sirzat Balin,Co-Founders, AKBA. “Through deploying HSR as part of its commitment to terminal safety and enhanced security measures, the Turkish Airport Authority has taken a major step to prevent the reoccurrence of terrorist attacks.” Mass Transport Hubs Esenboga Airport’s uptake of HSR is the latest major deployment of the technology, which is currently utilised by some of the world’s largest airports, as well as sports stadiums, entertainment venues, mass transport hubs and networks, places of worship, hotels and high-end retail and entertainment centres. “HSR is proven to dramatically improve safety in crowded public spaces, and enables venue owners to close a critical security capability gap,” added Gregory Labzovsky, CEO, Apstec. “We’re therefore delighted to be working with Esenboga Airport to enhance safety for millions of travellers. AKBA, our distributor in Turkey, were instrumental in helping the Turkish Authorities understand the potential of HSR.”

When security topics become a part of current events, it is usually in a negative light. Security generally only becomes news when it fails, sometimes in a dramatic, high profile and tragic way. However, security failures can also shed light on lessons learned and opportunities to improve. Working toward better security can translate into the purchase of more goods and equipment supplied by our market. For additional insights into the intersection of security and current events, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Good news or bad news? How do news reports and/or current events influence the general public’s opinion of physical security?

The new year 2019 is brimming with possibilities for the physical security industry, but will those possibilities prove to be good news or bad news for our market? Inevitably, it will be a combination of good and bad, but how much good and how bad? We wanted to check the temperature of the industry as it relates to expectations for the new year, so we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How optimistic is your outlook for the physical security industry in 2019? Why?

Hospitality businesses work to provide a safe and pleasant customer experience for their guests. Hotels offer a “home away from home” for millions of guests every day around the world. These are businesses of many sizes and types, providing services ranging from luxury accommodations to simple lodging for business travelers to family vacation experiences. Hospitality businesses also include restaurants, bars, movie theaters and other venues. Security needs are varied and require technologies that span a wide spectrum. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security challenges of the hospitality market?